Performance, reliability and value—the Rockhopper is designed for stretches of flowing singletrack, and now in both 29er and 650b wheel options. With hydraulic disc brakes, damped suspension fork and a lightweight butted A1 aluminum frame, the Rockhopper delivers proven performance riders seek on the trail.

WHAT Fully formed and butted, lightweight A1 SL Premium Aluminum frame built around both 29-inch or 650b wheels.

WHY Delivers faster acceleration and climbing, remains stable on descents, and offers increased comfort and durability. The combination of forming and butting produces the lightest frame possible, without sacrificing strength.

HOW Fully formed tubes are individually shaped for their unique purpose, allowing our engineers to optimize tubesets for specific performance characteristics. The butting process shaves excess material and weight in low-stress areas of each tube.

HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES

WHAT Hydraulic disc brakes equipped on every model.

WHY More consistent stopping power, brake modulation, and overall performance in any weather and all trail conditions.

HOW A master cylinder pumps hydraulic oil to the caliper, which pushes the pistons into contact with the disc rotor. Hydraulic systems produce more power than mechanical brakes, which means increased power at the caliper and more modulation at the lever.

WHY To give you more control over varying terrain. The fork performance is smooth, consistent, and predictable; plus, tunable by adjusting the knobs (on select models).

HOW Specialized suspension guru Mike McAndrews took apart a standard fork and completely reworked the internals to drastically increase compression and damping performance. The result is a suspension fork with a ride quality closer to a premium fork.

2X10 GEARING

WHAT Pro EVO, Expert EVO, and Expert models get 2X10 gearing.

WHY Reduced weight and less overlapping gear ratios.

HOW With 10-speed capabilities, bikes don’t need triple chainrings, as most ratios are covered with the 20 speeds.

EVO OPTIONS

WHAT More aggressive trail hardtails in 29-inch and 650b options.

WHY Some riders want to get extra crazy on the trails and want a bike with the right geometry and fit to handle it.

HOW EVO models are engineered with a slacker geometry, and spec'd with a longer travel fork, wider tires, and wider handlebars.